Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's Disease is a disease where a specific region of the brain called the substantia nigra pars compacta is damaged. This damage stops the brain from being able to produce a substance called dopamine. Dopamine has an exciting effect on the brain, and when it is lacking it makes it harder for the person to do things, particularly starting things.

What are the signs?

Some of the first signs of Parkinson's are what is known as a resting tremor. It is usually noticed in the hand on one side of the body and it goes away during

movements. About 60% of people will notice this as the first sign.

People with Parkinson's often say they have difficulty starting a movement, or that it feels harder to think. Voluntary eye movements are often slowed. Handwriting may become smaller and coarser, and facial expressions may be reduced. Typically as the disease progresses people develop what is known as a shuffling gait, because of difficulty lifting the feet off the ground. In the worst cases people may be made completely immobile with the disease.

What causes Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's is thought to be due to oxidative damage to the nerve cells(1-4) in the substantia nigra. This means that nerve cells in the brain are damaged by certain chemicals that are produced as part of energy production in the cell. These chemicals are called free radicals.

This cell damage can be due to a number of reasons. There may not be enough of things called antioxidants that protect the cells from damaging chemicals(1-4).

Pesticide and herbicide exposure has been linked to Parkinson's(1). A build up of heavy metals and other metals such as iron and copper in the cells can aggravate the free radical production.

A lack of stimulation of the area can mean the cell has less of things called mitochondria that produce energy in the cell. This makes the cell use less efficient, more damaging ways to produce energy.

Sometimes people are born with mitochondria that are faulty or don't work as well as they should. This is more likely if there is a history of Parkinson's or other neurodegenerative diseases on your mother's side of the family.

Some drugs can cause Parkinson's like symptoms. In particular a group of drugs called Statins that are used for controlling cholesterol can block the production of an important enzyme called Co-Enzyme Q10.(5) This enzyme is important for energy production. Blocking it causes more free radical production.

How can Parkinson's be treated?

One way to help repair and prevent further damage is to supplement antioxidants(1-4) . If you are taking Statins, it may be beneficial to take co-enzyme Q10. You should not stop taking any prescribed medication without consulting your GP or Consultant. If you suspect that your medication may be causing your symptoms, please speak to your GP.

In our centre we screen Parkinson's patients for heavy metal and metal ion toxicity. If you have a history of pesticide exposure a detox programme may be necessary. Physical therapies are often useful for relieving the symptoms of Parkinson's and improving brain function, and a programme of antioxidant supplements is often recommended. This is especially important for people taking L-dopa (a Parkinson's medication) as L-dopa is known to produce free radicals itself.(1)

Please note the information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health care practitioner.

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1. Prasad KN, Cole WC, Kumar B. Multiple antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of Parkinson's diease. J Am Coll Nutr. 1999 Oct;18(5):413-23
2. Kedar NP. Can we prevent Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease? J Postgrad Med. 2003 Jul-Sep;49(3):236-45
3. Prasad KN, Cole WC et al. Multiple antioxidants in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disease: analysis of biologic rationale. Curr Opin Neurol. 1999 Dec;12(6):761-70
4. Wang JY, Wen LL, Huang YN, Chen YT, Ku MC. Dual effect of antioxidants in neurodegeneration: direct neuroprotection against oxidative stress and indirect protection via suppression of glia-mediated inflammation. Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(27):3521-33
5. Nawarskas JJ. HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and coenzymeQ10. Cardiol Rev. 2005 Mar-Apr;13(2):76-9